Inside Naya Rivera's Relationship With David Spade
On July 9, the internet awoke to the sad news that Naya Rivera had gone missing at Ventura County's Lake Piru the previous day and that the search and rescue mission had turned into one of recovery instead. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department has since confirmed that the body of Naya Rivera, 33, has been recovered, as reported by People. "We are confident the body we found is that of Naya Rivera," Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said at a news conference. "It has been an extremely difficult time for her family throughout this ordeal ... our hearts are with them and we share in their grief for Naya's loss." Rivera's 4-year-old son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, was thankfully found uninjured on the boat his mother went missing from.
Within what seemed like minutes, Naya Rivera was a trending topic, and as fans grappled with the sadness, the tragic news also brought about a renewed interest in the former Glee star. Chief among that: Rivera's one-time romance with David Spade. Yes, although Rivera's relationships with Big Sean and ex-husband Ryan Dorsey are likely the most well-known of her past romances, she did have a connection with the comedian.
The unlikely pairing of David Spade and Naya Rivera
They were definitely one of the weirder Hollywood pairings, the kind that has social media tying itself up in knots trying to rationalize how it even happened, but for a little while there actress Naya Rivera and comedian David Spade were an actual thing. It all started with some photos of the unlikely duo getting wet and wild in a pool in Hawaii together (or, at least, they were in a pool together and that was enough to get the rumor mill going).
As E! News reported at the time, fans were completely shocked by the revelation (in part due to the pair's 22-year age gap, Rivera being 30 at the time, and Spade 52), even though there wasn't much PDA involved and neither party actually confirmed anything was going on. In fact, Spade went so far as to dismiss claims he was seeing the stunning star when confronted by TMZ, saying, "Don't believe everything you see in the pool," and Rivera took to Instagram (via Us Weekly) to address the subject, joking, "Holy s***, guys. The Easter bunny and the f***ing tooth fairy are for sure dating. I just saw them." Regardless of how long it lasted, though, there's no denying that the two seemed to share some sort of a romantic connection, as bizarre as it may seem.
Naya Rivera and David Spade were first spotted together in Hawaii
As the initial report from E! News breathlessly described, paparazzi shots showed Rivera and Spade getting close in the pool at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki back in March 2017. They were spotted embracing and laughing together, with the publication confirming that very same day that the two had been seeing each other for at least a few weeks. Hilariously, a source also told E! it was definitely not an April Fool's joke.
Next, details spilled in from an eyewitness, who told Entertainment Tonight, "The pair went for a short swim, hugged and had lots of body contact in the pool. They kept to one side of the pool where there was the most covering from prying eyes. Outside of the pool, they sat on lounge chairs and talked animatedly. They spent about an hour poolside together." The source added, "They were very happy. They looked pretty comfortable together." Rivera's friends joined her on the trip, along with Spade's comedian buddies, Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider, who were in town for work.
Naya Rivera and David Spade's relationship seemed to last just a few short months
Although a source assured People the two were just "good friends," it wasn't long before E! News got the scoop. "David really likes Naya," an insider confirmed at the time, noting, "They are still trying to keep things private, but they have hung out a couple of times since Hawaii." Although it seemed like a odd match, Spade and Rivera actually knew each other since she guest starred on 8 Simple Rules back in 2004 (via IMDb). They also appeared in Mad Families together and both single parented their kids. The duo were subsequently spotted getting cozy at celeb hotspot Nobu, in Malibu.
But, after just a few months of dating, Us Magazine confirmed they were dunzo. An eyewitness told the publication Spade was out with a group of women, including Joanna Krupa, with Rivera nowhere in sight. Rivera and Spade also unfollowed each other on Instagram, signaling the death knell of their relationship. It was a shame, because a source previously told Us the two were having fun, but apparently that just wasn't enough to keep the relationship going long term.